- Oct 29, 2017
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I've been unsuccessful at making a mirror image of a hard drive with XP on it (or any other version before it) for that matter. Once I install XP and all of my other favorite programs, I want to make a copy so I can transfer it to other PCs without having to go through the whole deal of installing Windows, all the prompts and everything.
I'd like to make a mirror image onto a 128 GB compact flash drive or suitable sized flash drive then transfer that to a fresh hard drive. Even if I have to plug a fresh hard drive into another PC to do it.
So far here is what I've done without any luck. Usually I get an error telling me the file is in use and it just hits a snag.
1) Years ago I tried the backup utility in Windows XP but something must have went wrong because when I tried to use the backup file (on the same PC) as a test to see if it actually worked, it didn't work. I can't remember what happened. I just remember it didn't work.
2) I've tried using X Copy through DOS but DOS doesn't recognize files longer than 8 characters so any files longer than 8 characters are replaced with "~".
3) Select "show hidden and system files" under folder options to get all the files on the hard drive to display.
I tried putting all the files in a ZIP file. But At some point in the Windows folder, it hits a file that says, "File in use, cannot copy".
4) Norton's Ghost: Seems like this program requires the hard drive to be the same or larger size. So if the hard drive is 10 GB, you have to use a 10 GB hard drive or larger and then if you use something like a 20 GB hard drive, you end up loosing 10 GB of storage.
5) Recently I tried using a program called something like "Reflect" but once again, this program will not recognize compact flash drives or flash drives as being an actual hard drive.
So what's the best way to do this. Thanks.
I'd like to make a mirror image onto a 128 GB compact flash drive or suitable sized flash drive then transfer that to a fresh hard drive. Even if I have to plug a fresh hard drive into another PC to do it.
So far here is what I've done without any luck. Usually I get an error telling me the file is in use and it just hits a snag.
1) Years ago I tried the backup utility in Windows XP but something must have went wrong because when I tried to use the backup file (on the same PC) as a test to see if it actually worked, it didn't work. I can't remember what happened. I just remember it didn't work.
2) I've tried using X Copy through DOS but DOS doesn't recognize files longer than 8 characters so any files longer than 8 characters are replaced with "~".
3) Select "show hidden and system files" under folder options to get all the files on the hard drive to display.
I tried putting all the files in a ZIP file. But At some point in the Windows folder, it hits a file that says, "File in use, cannot copy".
4) Norton's Ghost: Seems like this program requires the hard drive to be the same or larger size. So if the hard drive is 10 GB, you have to use a 10 GB hard drive or larger and then if you use something like a 20 GB hard drive, you end up loosing 10 GB of storage.
5) Recently I tried using a program called something like "Reflect" but once again, this program will not recognize compact flash drives or flash drives as being an actual hard drive.
So what's the best way to do this. Thanks.
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